Leandro Padilla, left. watches his son, Jonathan, 4, answer questions at the audio/visual station during a Kindergarden Readiness Conference at the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School in Fairfield, Saturday. The workshop helps parents determine if their children are ready for kindergarden. (Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic)

Kindergarten Readiness Roundup helps families prep for school

FAIRFIELD — For the second straight year the Solano Parent and Child Education Kindergarten Readiness Roundup was a rousing success.

More than 150 families turned up Saturday at the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School to have their children evaluated and to learn about resources that can help families be prepared when their children enter kindergarten in the fall.

For families who missed Saturday’s event, there’s another one on Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., again at the Adult School, 900 Travis Blvd.

Open to anyone with children entering kindergarten, the Readiness Roundup provided parents with all the information they need to be sure their kids are prepared.

Cheryl Stumbaugh, a preschool teacher at the Adult School, said the turnout was overwhelming.

“We had them all the way out to the sidewalk,” she said of the line as the roundup got going.

Once registered – families can register online in advance, or at the roundup – each child received a backpack for collecting goodies as they moved from station to station.

Stumbaugh said each booth was designed to evaluate a different part of the child’s development and readiness.

First was general information, where children were asked their names, parent’s name, birthday and more.

Then came object assessments, where children were asked to identify colors, shapes and to count to 30 among other things.

Visual-audio assessments included matching and auditory association.

At the fine motor skills station, children were asked to copy a shape and cut out a circle. At the growth motor skills station, children were asked to walk a straight line, jump with both feet and balance on each foot.

Based on the final scores, Stumbaugh said organizers could provide further information for parents if a child needed extra help.

While traveling to each station, the children received things to fill their backpacks, such as a phonics audio CD and a writing journal at the first station.

Children also received a hunk of modeling clay.

“Clay is to help them to build the muscles in their hands. Play-Doh is really nice, but clay is best,” Stumbaugh said.